Patch panel for programming a split bus electrical panel for partial or full backup with PV and battery systems

ABSTRACT

An apparatus provides a single split-bus electrical panel with a first panel section that supplies power to non-critical loads and a second panel section to supply photoelectric power to critical loads. A patch panel associated with the split-bus electrical panel is configured to enable an installer to selectively connect factory installed connections to either: (1) connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utility power to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the second panel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnection device when the second panel section is presently at least partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect both panel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to residential electrical panels forproviding full or partial back-up of a photovoltaic system to powercritical loads during a utility power outage.

BACKGROUND

When an electrical utility outage occurs, critical loads such as pumps,security systems, refrigerators and electronics should ideally have anauxiliary source of power available. In residential applications,photovoltaic (PV) systems with battery back-up are available to providelimited auxiliary power, which is typically at a lower power level thanis available from the utility. Thus, some means is required to allocatethe reduced power to the critical loads. The installation of typicalresidential PV systems requires a separate back-up panel for thecritical loads, so that the critical loads must be relocated to theseparate back-up panel.

In typical residential photovoltaic/battery back-up systems, a decisionneeds to be made prior to installation of the system, as to whether apartial back-up system or full back-up system will be provided for thehome. Once the choice is made to install either the partial back-upsystem or full back-up system, it would require significant labor toreconstruct and rewire the system if the choice of systems were tochange.

What is needed is a convenient way for the installer implement either apartial back-up system or full back-up system at the time the home isbeing built, and moreover, to enable an electrician to later change thesystem, if desired by the home owner.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, an apparatusprovides a single split-bus electrical panel with back-feed circuitbreakers. Two panel sections of the single split bus electrical panelmay be selectively powered by a utility power source, a back-upphotovoltaic power source, or a combination of the utility power sourceand the photovoltaic power source. A patch panel is associated with or apart of the split-bus electrical panel, which includes a plurality ofwire termination locations, which facilitates making changes between afully backed up system and a partially backed-up system. The patch panelis configured to enable an installer to selectively connect factoryinstalled connections to the back-feed circuit breakers to either: (1)connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utilitypower to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the secondpanel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnectiondevice when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect bothpanel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.

The back-feed circuit breakers are arranged to allow connection of themicrogrid interconnection device for isolation of a critical loadssection from a standards loads section during back-up operation due to autility power outage. The first panel section of the split-buselectrical panel may be selectively connected to a utility power sourceto supply power to non-critical standards loads. The second panelsection of the split-bus electrical panel may be selectively connectedto a photovoltaic power source to supply power to critical loads in aresidence when there is a power outage. The second panel section may beselectively connected through a relay in the microgrid interconnectiondevice to the utility power source, in parallel with the first panelsection, to supply both utility power and photovoltaic power when thereis no outage. The relay is configured to isolate the second panel whenthere is a utility power outage.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, an apparatusfor providing full or partial back-up power of a residentialphotovoltaic system to power critical residential loads during a utilitypower outage, comprises:

a single, split-bus electrical panel including a first panel section ofthe split-bus electrical panel configured to supply power tonon-critical standard electrical loads and a second panel section of thesplit-bus electrical panel configured to supply power to criticalelectrical loads by a back-up system, the critical loads required to bepowered during a utility power outage;

a first circuit breaker in the first panel section connected to a firstbus bar and a second bus bar of the first panel section, and connectedto a first pair of wire terminations, the first circuit breakerconfigured to conduct power from a power source connected via the firstpair of wire terminations;

a second circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to afirst bus bar and a second bus bar of the second panel section, andconnected to a second pair of wire terminations, the second circuitbreaker configured to conduct power from a power source via the secondpair of wire terminations; and

a power wiring patch panel associated with the split-bus electricalpanel, including a plurality of wire termination locationsinterconnected by a plurality of factory installed connections in thepatch panel, the patch panel configured to enable an installer toselectively connect the first and second pairs of wire terminations toselected wire termination locations of the patch panel to either: (1)connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utilitypower to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the secondpanel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnectiondevice when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect bothpanel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, the patchpanel has a first wire termination location 1 connected to an L1 phaseof a split phase utility power source, and a second wire terminationlocation 2 connected to an L2 phase of the split phase utility powersource;

wherein the patch panel is configured to connect the first wiretermination location 1 to third 3 and fourth 11 wire terminationlocations and configured to connect the second wire termination location2 to fifth 4 and sixth 12 wire termination locations;

wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1 phase wiretermination 109 of the first circuit breaker 110A to the third wiretermination location 3 of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wiretermination 111 of the first circuit breaker to the fifth wiretermination location 4 of the patch panel, to conduct power from theutility power source to the first panel section 102A;

wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1 phase wiretermination 113 of the second circuit breaker 110B to a seventh wiretermination location 6 of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wiretermination 115 of the second circuit breaker to an eighth wiretermination location 8 of the patch panel;

wherein the patch panel is configured to connect the seventh wiretermination location 6 to a ninth wire termination location 10 and toconnect the eighth wire termination location 8 to a tenth wiretermination location 9;

wherein the patch panel is configured to conduct power from the utilitypower source to the second panel section 102B, by a first shorting wire114′ between the fourth wire termination location 11 and the ninth wiretermination location 10 of the patch panel, and by a second shortingwire 112′ between the sixth wire termination location 12 and the tenthwire termination location 9 of the patch panel, to connect each panelsection to normal utility power, but without solar power back-up whenthere is a utility outage.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, the patchpanel is configured to enable an installer to selectively connect thesecond panel section 102B to the utility power via first and secondrelay switches A and B of a relay 118 in a microgrid interconnectiondevice 116 when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, by enabling the installer toselectively remove the first and second shorting wires from the patchpanel and enable the installer to connect a first relay switch A betweenthe fourth wire termination 11 location and the ninth wire terminationlocation 10 of the patch panel, and by enabling the installer toselectively connect a second relay B between the sixth wire terminationlocation 12 and the tenth wire termination location 9 of the patchpanel, for partial power back-up of the split-bus panel by powering thefirst panel section only with utility power and by powering the secondpanel section with utility power that is backed up with photovoltaicpower when there is a utility outage.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, the firstand second relay switches in the microgrid interconnection device arecoupled to the utility power source and configured to be closed andconduct utility power from the utility power source when there is noutility power outage and to be open when there is a utility poweroutage.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, the patchpanel is configured to connect an eleventh wire termination location 5of the patch panel to the ninth wire termination location 10 and toconnect a twelfth wire termination location 7 of the patch panel to thetenth wire termination location 9;

wherein the patch panel is configured to enable an installer toselectively move the L1 phase wire termination 109 of the first circuitbreaker 110A from the third wire termination location 3 and to connectthe L1 phase wire termination 109 of the first circuit breaker 110A tothe eleventh wire termination location 5 of the patch panel and to movethe L2 wire termination 111 of the first circuit breaker from the fifthwire termination location 4 to the twelfth wire termination location 7of the patch panel, to conduct power from the photovoltaic power sourceand from the utility power source to the first panel section 102A, forfull power back-up of the split-bus panel by powering both the firstpanel section and the second panel section with utility power that isbacked up with photovoltaic power when there is a utility outage.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, the back-upsystem includes a back-up power source that includes a rechargeablebattery, a charger, an inverter, and an outage detector that isconfigured to detect when there is a utility power outage and send anoutage signal to the relay.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, an outagedetector is associated with the microgrid connection device and isconfigured to detect whether there is a utility power outage and tocause a relay to open when a utility power outage is detected.

In accordance with one example embodiment described herein, system forproviding full or partial back-up power of a residential photovoltaicsystem to power critical residential loads during a utility poweroutage, comprises:

a single, split-bus electrical panel including a first panel section ofthe split-bus electrical panel configured to supply power tonon-critical standard electrical loads and a second panel section of thesplit-bus electrical panel configured to supply power to criticalelectrical loads by a back-up system, the critical loads required to bepowered during a utility power outage;

a first circuit breaker in the first panel section connected to a firstbus bar and a second bus bar of the first panel section, and connectedto a first pair of wire terminations, the first circuit breakerconfigured to conduct power from a power source connected via the firstpair of wire terminations;

a second circuit breaker in the second panel section connected to afirst bus bar and a second bus bar of the second panel section, andconnected to a second pair of wire terminations, the second circuitbreaker configured to conduct power from a power source via the secondpair of wire terminations; and

a power wiring patch panel associated with the split-bus electricalpanel, including a plurality of wire termination locationsinterconnected by a plurality of factory installed connections in thepatch panel, the patch panel configured to enable an installer toselectively connect the first and second wire terminations to selectedwire termination locations of the patch panel to either: (1) connecteach panel section directly to utility power for full utility power toboth panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the second panel sectionto the utility power via a microgrid interconnection device when thesecond panel section is presently at least partially powered by back-upphotovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect both panel sections tofull back-up photovoltaic power.

The resulting apparatus and system connect the two panel sections of thesplit bus in parallel, providing a convenient way for the installerimplement either a partial back-up system or full back-up system at thetime the home is being built, and moreover, to enable an electrician tolater change the system, if desired by the home owner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above,may be had by reference to various embodiments, some of which areillustrated in the appended drawings. While the appended drawingsillustrate select embodiments of this disclosure, these drawings are notto be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit toother equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is circuit and functional block diagram of a single split-buselectrical panel with back-feed circuit breakers protecting two sectionsof the single split bus electrical panel. The patch panel is shown asshipped from factory, which enables normal utility power and solar powerwithout backup.

FIG. 2 is circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 1 , wherein thepatch panel is configured for partial power back-up of the split-buspanel by powering the first panel section only with utility power and bypowering the second panel section with utility power that is backed upwith photovoltaic power when there is a utility outage.

FIG. 3A is a circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 1 , whereinthe patch panel is configured for full power back-up of the split-buspanel by powering both the first panel section and the second panelsection with utility power that is backed up with photovoltaic powerwhen there is a utility outage. The figure shows the power flow from therelay of the microgrid interconnection device flowing to the firstcircuit breaker in the first panel section when there is no utilitypower outage.

FIG. 3B is circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 3A, which showsthe power flow from the second circuit breaker in the second panelflowing to the first circuit breaker in the first panel section whenthere is a utility power outage.

FIG. 3C is a circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 3B,illustrating an alternate example embodiment of the single split-buselectrical panel 100, wherein a back-up battery may provide back-updirect current to the solar inverter 134, which is combined with thephotoelectric direct current from the photovoltaic solar array 132.

FIGS. 4A to 4D depict a custom power distribution block with lugsserving as the patch panel.

FIGS. 5A to 5D depict a power distribution block with lugs serving asthe patch panel.

Identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, todesignate identical elements that are common to the figures. However,elements disclosed in one embodiment may be beneficially utilized onother embodiments without specific recitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a single split-bus electrical panel 100with back-feed circuit breakers 110A and 110B protecting two sections102A and 102B of the single split bus electrical panel 100, which areconnected in parallel. The circuit breakers 110A and 110B are arrangedto allow connection of a microgrid interconnection device (MID) 116(FIG. 2 ) for isolation of a critical loads section 108B from a standardloads section 108A during a back-up operation due to a utility poweroutage. The upper or second section 102B is connected through a thirdback-feed circuit breaker 130 to a photovoltaic power source 132 (FIG. 2). A patch panel 142 is associated with or is a part of the split-buselectrical panel 100. The patch panel 142 includes a plurality of wiretermination locations 1-12 interconnected by a plurality of factorypre-wired interconnection wires in the patch panel connected toback-feed circuit breakers 110A and 110B protecting the panel sections102A and 102B. The patch panel is configured to connect first wireterminations 109 and 111 and second wire terminations 113 and 115 of therespective first and second circuit breakers 110A and 110B to wiretermination locations 1-12 interconnected by a plurality of factoryinstalled connections in the patch panel 142, for powering the two panelsections 102A and 102B.

The single split-bus electrical panel apparatus 100 isolates criticalelectrical loads during a utility power outage, such as freezers,security systems, or electronic medical devices, to enable them to bepowered by a renewable energy power source of a back-up system. Theback-up system may be powered, for example, by at least one of aphotovoltaic solar array 132 or a wind energy array. A first or lowerpanel section 102A of the split-bus electrical panel 100 supplies powerto the non-critical standard loads 108A, such as general lighting, in aresidence. A second or upper panel section 102B of the split-buselectrical panel 100 supplies power to the critical loads 108B in theresidence, which must continue to be powered during a utility poweroutage.

In accordance with an example embodiment, a main incoming circuitbreaker 103 is connected to an electric power utility that provides120/240 VAC split phase electrical power for distribution by thesplit-bus electrical panel 100 to branch circuits of the residence. Theutility supplies two 120 VAC phases L1 and L2 that are 180° out of phasewith each other (split phases), and a grounded neutral voltage N. Themain incoming circuit breaker 103 may be connected to the L1 leg and theL2 leg of the split-phase electrical power, and the grounded neutralvoltage N may be connected to a neutral terminal of the split-buselectrical panel 100. The main incoming circuit breaker 103 may have anexample rating of 200 Amperes.

The first 120 VAC phase L1 is between the L1 leg and the groundedneutral N, the phase L1 and is connected from the main breaker 103 vialine 105 to a wire termination location 1 of patch panel 142 of thesplit-bus electrical panel 100. The second 120 VAC phase L2 is betweenthe L2 leg and the grounded Neutral N, the phase L2 and is connectedfrom the main breaker 103 via line 107 to a wire termination locations 2of the patch panel 142. A 240 VAC service may be available between theLeg L1 and the Leg L2 of the split-phase electrical power.

A first two-pole circuit breaker 110A in the first panel section 102Amay be oriented as a back feed breaker to connect the L1 bus bar 104A tothe L1 phase of a power source and the L2 bus bar 106A to the phase L2of the power source, such as from the main circuit breaker 103. Thefirst two-pole circuit breaker 110A may have an example rating of 110Amperes. The first bus bar 104A and the second bus bar 106A in the firstpanel section 102A, may each have an example bus bar rating of 225Amperes.

A second two-pole circuit breaker 110B in the second panel section 102Bmay be oriented as a back feed breaker to connect the L1 bus bar 104B tothe L1 phase of a power source and the L2 bus bar 106B to the phase L2of the power source. The second two-pole circuit breaker 110B may havean example rating of 110 Amperes. The first bus bar 104B and the secondbus bar 106B in the second panel section 102B, may each have an examplebus bar rating of 225 Amperes.

A patch panel 142 is associated with or a part of the split-buselectrical panel 100, which includes a plurality of wire terminationlocations 1-12, which facilitates making changes between a fully backedup system and a partially backed-up system. The patch panel 142 isconfigured to connect wire terminations 109, 111, 113, and 115 from theback-feed circuit breakers to the wire termination locations 1-12 of thepatch panel to either: (1) connect each panel section 102A and 102Bdirectly to utility power from the main breaker 103 for full utilitypower to both panel sections (FIG. 1 ); (2) alternately to connect thesecond panel section 102B to the utility power via a microgridinterconnection device 116 when the second panel section 102B ispresently at least partially powered by back-up photovoltaic powersource 132 (FIG. 2 ), or (3) alternately connect both panel sections102A and 102B to full back-up photovoltaic power from back-upphotovoltaic power source 132 (FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The patch panel is shipped from the factory to enable normal utilitypower and solar power without backup. The patch panel has a first wiretermination location 1 connected to an L1 phase of a split phase utilitypower source, and a second wire termination location 2 connected to anL2 phase of the split phase utility power source. The patch panel isconfigured to connect the first wire termination location 1 to third 3and fourth 11 wire termination locations and configured to connect thesecond wire termination location 2 to fifth 4 and sixth 12 wiretermination locations. The patch panel is configured to connect an L1phase wire termination 109 of the first circuit breaker 110A to thethird wire termination location 3 of the patch panel and to connect anL2 wire termination 111 of the first circuit breaker to the fifth wiretermination location 4 of the patch panel, to conduct power from theutility power source to the first panel section 102A. The patch panel isconfigured to connect an L1 phase wire termination 113 of the secondcircuit breaker 110B to a seventh wire termination location 6 of thepatch panel and to connect an L2 wire termination 115 of the secondcircuit breaker to an eighth wire termination location 8 of the patchpanel. The patch panel is configured to connect the seventh wiretermination location 6 to a ninth wire termination location 10 and toconnect the eighth wire termination location 8 to a tenth wiretermination location 9. The patch panel is configured to conduct powerfrom the utility power source to the second panel section 102B, by afirst shorting wire 114′ between the fourth wire termination location 11and the ninth wire termination location 10 of the patch panel, and by asecond shorting wire 112′ between the sixth wire termination location 12and the tenth wire termination location 9 of the patch panel, to connecteach panel section to normal utility power, but without solar powerback-up when there is a utility outage.

FIG. 2 is circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 1 , wherein thepatch panel is configured for partial power back-up of the split-buspanel by powering the first panel section 102A only with utility powerand by powering the second panel section 102B with utility power that isbacked up with photovoltaic power when there is a utility outage. Inorder to provide power to a home during a utility outage, even one thathas a solar system, it is necessary to add not only a battery, but alsoa backup interface that is capable of detecting a utility outage andisolating the home from the utility grid so that the battery and solarinverter can then create a microgrid safely. The isolation isaccomplished using a power relay able to meet the specifications of aMicrogrid Interface Device according to UL standards and the NationalElectrical Code (NEC).

The patch panel is configured to enable an installer to selectivelyconnect the second panel section 102B to the utility power via first andsecond relay switches A and B of a relay 118 in a microgridinterconnection device 116 when the second panel section is presently atleast partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, by enabling theinstaller to selectively remove the first and second shorting wires fromthe patch panel. The patch panel is configured to enable the installerto connect a first relay switch A between the fourth wire termination 11location and the ninth wire termination location 10 of the patch panel,and to selectively connect a second relay B between the sixth wiretermination location 12 and the tenth wire termination location 9 of thepatch panel. This configuration provides partial power back-up of thesplit-bus panel by powering the first panel section only with utilitypower and by powering the second panel section with utility power thatis backed up with photovoltaic power when there is a utility outage.

The first and second relay switches A and B in the microgridinterconnection device 116 are coupled to the utility power source andconfigured to be closed and conduct utility power from the utility powersource when there is no utility power outage and to be open when thereis a utility power outage.

FIG. 3A is circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 1 , wherein thepatch panel is configured for full power back-up of the split-bus panelby powering both the first panel section 102A and the second panelsection 102B with utility power that is backed up with photovoltaicpower when there is a utility outage. The figure shows the power flowfrom the relay 118 of the microgrid interconnection device 116 flowingto the first circuit breaker 110A in the first panel section 102A whenthere is no utility power outage.

FIG. 3B is circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 3A, which showsthe power flow from the second circuit breaker 110B in the second panel102B flowing to the first circuit breaker 110A in the first panelsection 102A when there is a utility power outage.

The patch panel is configured to connect an eleventh wire terminationlocation 5 of the patch panel to the ninth wire termination location 10and to connect a twelfth wire termination location 7 of the patch panelto the tenth wire termination location 9. The patch panel is configuredto enable an installer to selectively move the L1 phase wire termination109 of the first circuit breaker 110A from the third wire terminationlocation 3 and to connect the L1 phase wire termination 109 of the firstcircuit breaker 110A to the eleventh wire termination location 5 of thepatch panel and to move the L2 wire termination 111 of the first circuitbreaker from the fifth wire termination location 4 to the twelfth wiretermination location 7 of the patch panel, to conduct power from thephotovoltaic power source and from the utility power source to the firstpanel section 102A, for full power back-up of the split-bus panel bypowering both the first panel section and the second panel section withutility power that is backed up with photovoltaic power when there is autility outage.

The second panel section 102B of the split-bus electrical panel 100services a back-up system that includes renewable energy power sourcessuch as at least one of a photovoltaic (PV) system or a wind energysystem. The photovoltaic (PV) system with a battery back-up, includes aphotovoltaic solar array 132, a solar inverter 134, and a back-upbattery 120. The back-up battery 120 includes a rechargeable battery, aninverter, a charger, and an outage detector 121. In normal operationwhen there is no outage of power from the utility, the photovoltaicsystem with battery back-up supplements the utility power.

The solar inverter 134 receives direct current from the photovoltaicsolar array 132 and outputs alternating current over lines 136 and 138to a third two-pole circuit breaker 130 in the second panel section 102Bthat may be oriented as a back feed breaker to connect the L1 bus bar104B and the L2 bus bar 106B to the solar inverter 134. The thirdtwo-pole circuit breaker 130 may have an example rating of 60 Amperes.The solar inverter 134 outputs the AC power to the L1 bus bar 104B andthe L2 bus bar 106B in the second panel section 102B via the thirdtwo-pole circuit breaker 130.

The back-up battery 120 includes an inverter that converts directcurrent from the rechargeable battery and outputs alternating current toa fourth two-pole circuit breaker 124 in the second panel section 102Bthat may be oriented as a back feed breaker to connect the L1 bus bar104B and the L2 bus bar 106B to the inverter of the back-up battery 120.The fourth two-pole circuit breaker 124 may have an example rating of 30Amperes. The inverter of the back-up battery 120 outputs the AC powerover lines 126 and 128 to the fourth two-pole breaker 124 and the L1 busbar 104B and the L2 bus bar 106B in the second panel section 102B, tosupplement any insufficiency in photovoltaic power from the solarinverter 134, if needed. In addition, the back-up battery 120 includes arechargeable battery and a charger that receives the utility power (orsolar power) from the fourth circuit breaker 124 to charge therechargeable battery when there is no utility power outage.

The backup battery 120 includes an outage detector 121 that may beconnected to either the L1 phase or the L2 phase outputs 105 and 107from the main circuit breaker 103. The outage detector 121 detects whenthe voltage changes in either or both of L1 phase and L2 phase outputs105 and 107, indicating an outage of utility power. In response, theoutage detector 121 of the back-up battery 120 sends an outage signal122 to the relay 118 in the microgrid interconnection device 116,causing the relay 118 to open during the outage. When the relay 118opens, the second panel section 102B may become isolated from the mainbreaker 103, so that the second panel 102B may be powered only from thesolar inverter 134 and the back-up battery 120. This prevents solarpower from leaking out through the main breaker 103 onto the utilitygrid, where it may cause a hazard to utility workers or others, who maycome into contact with power lines of the grid.

Branch circuit breakers may, for example, be plugged into either thefirst L1 bus bar 104A or the second L2 bus bar 106A of the first panelsection 102A of the split-bus electrical panel 100, to supply power tovarious non-critical standard loads 108A of the residence. The firstpanel section 102A of the split-bus electrical panel 100 has aninterleaved type of bus connector arrangement with two columns of branchcircuit breakers. Each branch circuit breaker originates on the oppositephase (L1 or L2) from the one above or below it. The 120 VAC branchcircuit loads are connected between a breaker on phase L1 bus bar 104Aand Neutral N or between a breaker on Phase L2 bus bar 106A and NeutralN. The 240 V branch circuit loads may be connected using a firstsingle-pole breaker on Phase L1 bus bar 104A and a second single-polebreaker Phase L2 bus bar 106A. The branch circuit breakers may haveexample ratings in a range of 15 to 90 Amperes.

The branch circuit breakers may also, for example, be plugged intoeither the first L1 bus bar 104B or the second L2 bus bar 106B of thesecond panel section 102B of the split-bus electrical panel 100, tosupply power to various critical loads 108B of the residence. The secondpanel section 102B of the split-bus electrical panel 100 has aninterleaved type of bus connector arrangement with two columns of branchcircuit breakers. Each branch circuit breaker originates on the oppositephase (L1 or L2) from the one above or below it. The 120 VAC branchcircuit loads are connected between a breaker on phase L1 bus bar 104Band Neutral N or between a breaker on Phase L2 bus bar 106B and NeutralN. The 240 V branch circuit loads may be connected using a firstsingle-pole breaker on Phase L1 bus bar 104B and a second single-polebreaker Phase L2 bus bar 106B. The branch circuit breakers may haveexample ratings in a range of 15 to 90 Amperes.

In this manner, power may be supplied to the critical loads 108Bconnected to the second panel 102B, which must continue to be poweredduring a utility power outage.

When the utility power outage ends and utility power resumes, the outagedetector 121 in the back-up battery 120 detects that the voltage hasreturned to one or both of the L1 phase and L2 phase outputs 105 and 107of the main breaker 103, indicating that the outage of utility power hasended. In response, the outage detector 121 of the back-up battery 120sends a signal that the outage has ended, to the relay 118 in themicrogrid interconnection device 116, causing the relay 118 to close.When the relay 118 closes, the second panel section 102B may bereconnected to main breaker 103, so that it may be powered by theutility power, as well as being powered by the supplementary power fromthe solar inverter 134 and the back-up battery 120.

FIG. 3C is a circuit and functional block diagram of FIG. 3B,illustrating an alternate example embodiment of the single split-buselectrical panel 100, wherein a back-up battery 120′ may provide back-updirect current over line 128′ to the solar inverter 134, which iscombined with the photoelectric direct current from the photovoltaicsolar array 132. The combined currents are converted by the solarinverter 134 to alternating current that is provided over lines 136 and138 to the third circuit breaker 130. In an alternate exampleembodiment, the outage detector 121′ may be associated with themicrogrid connection device 116. The outage detector is configured todetect whether there is a utility power outage and to cause the relay118 to open when a utility power outage is detected. Battery power fromthe back-up battery is available to operate the relay 118 during autility power outage.

FIGS. 4A to 4D depict a custom power distribution block 404 with lugs406 serving as the patch panel 142. The custom power distribution block404 is shown in FIG. 4A as positioned in an electrical load center andconnected between the main breaker 103 and the split bus panel 100. Thefactory installed custom power distribution block 404 is mounted in aspace allocated in the in the main load center or electrical panel of ahome. The custom power distribution block 404 may be later connected tothe microgrid interconnection device 116 and the relay 118 shown inFIGS. 2, 3A and 3B, which may be later installed by an installer whenconverting the electrical system into a partially backed up or a fullybacked up photovoltaic powered system. The custom power distributionblock 404 shown in FIG. 4B includes terminal lugs 406 that function asthe patch panel 142. The custom power distribution block 404 shown inFIG. 4C identifies how the lugs 406 function as the wire terminationlocations 1 through 12 shown in the patch panel 142 depicted in FIG. 4D,and also depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 3B. In the illustrated versionof the custom power distribution block 404, the multiple wiretermination position lugs on the L1 and L2 outputs of the main breakerare also part of the patch panel.

FIGS. 5A to 5D depict a power distribution block 408 with lugs 410serving as the patch panel 142. The power distribution block 408 isshown in FIG. 5A as positioned in an electrical load center andconnected between the main breaker 103 and the split bus panel 100. Thefactory installed power distribution block 408 is mounted in a spaceallocated in the in the main load center or electrical panel of a home.The power distribution block 408 may be later connected to the microgridinterconnection device 116 and the relay 118 shown in FIGS. 2, 3A and3B, which may be later installed by an installer when converting theelectrical system into a partially backed up or a fully backed upphotovoltaic powered system. The power distribution block 408 shown inFIG. 5B includes terminal lugs 410 that function as the patch panel 142.The power distribution block 408 shown in FIG. 5C identifies how thelugs 410 function as the wire termination locations 1 through 12 shownin the patch panel 142 depicted in FIG. 5D, and also depicted in FIGS.1, 2, 3A, and 3B.

The resulting apparatus, system, and method connect the two panelsections of the split bus in parallel, providing a convenient way forthe installer implement either a partial back-up system or full back-upsystem at the time the home is being built, and moreover, to enable anelectrician to later change the system, if desired by the home owner.

In the preceding, reference is made to various embodiments. However, thescope of the present disclosure is not limited to the specific describedembodiments. Instead, any combination of the described features andelements, whether related to different embodiments or not, iscontemplated to implement and practice contemplated embodiments.Furthermore, although embodiments may achieve advantages over otherpossible solutions or over the prior art, whether or not a particularadvantage is achieved by a given embodiment is not limiting of the scopeof the present disclosure. Thus, the preceding aspects, features,embodiments and advantages are merely illustrative and are notconsidered elements or limitations of the appended claims except whereexplicitly recited in a claim(s).

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to beillustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementation examplesare apparent upon reading and understanding the above description.Although the disclosure describes specific examples, it is recognizedthat the systems and methods of the disclosure are not limited to theexamples described herein but may be practiced with modifications withinthe scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification anddrawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than arestrictive sense. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, bedetermined with reference to the appended claims, along with the fullscope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for providing full or partialback-up power of a residential photovoltaic system to power criticalresidential loads during a utility power outage, comprising: a single,split-bus electrical panel including a first panel section of thesplit-bus electrical panel configured to supply power to non-criticalstandard electrical loads and a second panel section of the split-buselectrical panel configured to supply power to critical electrical loadsby a back-up system, the critical loads required to be powered during autility power outage; a first circuit breaker in the first panel sectionconnected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the first panelsection, and connected to a first pair of wire terminations, the firstcircuit breaker configured to conduct power from a power sourceconnected via the first pair of wire terminations; a second circuitbreaker in the second panel section connected to a first bus bar and asecond bus bar of the second panel section, and connected to a secondpair of wire terminations, the second circuit breaker configured toconduct power from a power source via the second pair of wireterminations; and a power wiring patch panel associated with thesplit-bus electrical panel, including a plurality of wire terminationlocations interconnected by a plurality of factory installed connectionsin the patch panel, the patch panel configured to enable an installer toselectively connect the first and second pairs of wire terminations toselected wire termination locations of the patch panel to either: (1)connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utilitypower to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the secondpanel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnectiondevice when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect bothpanel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the patch panel has a first wire termination locationconnected to an L1 phase of a split phase utility power source, and asecond wire termination location connected to an L2 phase of the splitphase utility power source; wherein the patch panel is configured toconnect the first wire termination location to third and fourth wiretermination locations and configured to connect the second wiretermination location to fifth and sixth wire termination locations;wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1 phase wiretermination of the first circuit breaker to the third wire terminationlocation of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wire termination of thefirst circuit breaker to the fifth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to conduct power from the utility power source to the firstpanel section; wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1phase wire termination of the second circuit breaker to a seventh wiretermination location of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wiretermination of the second circuit breaker to an eighth wire terminationlocation of the patch panel; wherein the patch panel is configured toconnect the seventh wire termination location to a ninth wiretermination location and to connect the eighth wire termination locationto a tenth wire termination location; wherein the patch panel isconfigured to conduct power from the utility power source to the secondpanel section, by a first shorting wire between the fourth wiretermination location and the ninth wire termination location of thepatch panel, and by a second shorting wire between the sixth wiretermination location and the tenth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to connect each panel section to normal utility power, butwithout solar power back-up when there is a utility outage.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein the patch panel is configured to enable aninstaller to selectively connect the second panel section to the utilitypower via first and second relay switches of a relay in a microgridinterconnection device when the second panel section is presently atleast partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, by enabling theinstaller to selectively remove the first and second shorting wires fromthe patch panel and enable the installer to connect a first relay switchbetween the fourth wire termination location and the ninth wiretermination location of the patch panel, and by enabling the installerto selectively connect a second relay between the sixth wire terminationlocation and the tenth wire termination location of the patch panel, forpartial power back-up of the split-bus panel by powering the first panelsection only with utility power and by powering the second panel sectionwith utility power that is backed up with photovoltaic power when thereis a utility outage.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first andsecond relay switches in the microgrid interconnection device arecoupled to the utility power source and configured to be closed andconduct utility power from the utility power source when there is noutility power outage and to be open when there is a utility poweroutage.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the patch panel isconfigured to connect an eleventh wire termination location of the patchpanel to the ninth wire termination location and to connect a twelfthwire termination location of the patch panel to the tenth wiretermination location; wherein the patch panel is configured to enable aninstaller to selectively move the L1 phase wire termination of the firstcircuit breaker from the third wire termination location and to connectthe L1 phase wire termination of the first circuit breaker to theeleventh wire termination location of the patch panel and to move the L2wire termination of the first circuit breaker from the fifth wiretermination location to the twelfth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to conduct power from the photovoltaic power source andfrom the utility power source to the first panel section, for full powerback-up of the split-bus panel by powering both the first panel sectionand the second panel section with utility power that is backed up withphotovoltaic power when there is a utility outage.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the back-up system includes a back-up power source thatincludes a rechargeable battery, a charger, an inverter, and an outagedetector that is configured to detect when there is a utility poweroutage and send an outage signal to the relay.
 7. The apparatus of claim1, wherein an outage detector is associated with the microgridconnection device and is configured to detect whether there is a utilitypower outage and to cause a relay to open when a utility power outage isdetected.
 8. A system for providing full or partial back-up power of aresidential photovoltaic system to power critical residential loadsduring a utility power outage, comprising: a single, split-buselectrical panel including a first panel section of the split-buselectrical panel configured to supply power to non-critical standardelectrical loads and a second panel section of the split-bus electricalpanel configured to supply power to critical electrical loads by aback-up system, the critical loads required to be powered during autility power outage; a first circuit breaker in the first panel sectionconnected to a first bus bar and a second bus bar of the first panelsection, and connected to a first pair of wire terminations, the firstcircuit breaker configured to conduct power from a power sourceconnected via the first pair of wire terminations; a second circuitbreaker in the second panel section connected to a first bus bar and asecond bus bar of the second panel section, and connected to a secondpair of wire terminations, the second circuit breaker configured toconduct power from a power source via the second pair of wireterminations; and a power wiring patch panel associated with thesplit-bus electrical panel, including a plurality of wire terminationlocations interconnected by a plurality of factory installed connectionsin the patch panel, the patch panel configured to enable an installer toselectively connect the first and second pairs of wire terminations toselected wire termination locations of the patch panel to either: (1)connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utilitypower to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the secondpanel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnectiondevice when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect bothpanel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.
 9. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the patch panel has a first wire termination locationconnected to an L1 phase of a split phase utility power source, and asecond wire termination location connected to an L2 phase of the splitphase utility power source; wherein the patch panel is configured toconnect the first wire termination location to third and fourth wiretermination locations and configured to connect the second wiretermination location to fifth and sixth wire termination locations;wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1 phase wiretermination of the first circuit breaker to the third wire terminationlocation of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wire termination of thefirst circuit breaker to the fifth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to conduct power from the utility power source to the firstpanel section; wherein the patch panel is configured to connect an L1phase wire termination of the second circuit breaker to a seventh wiretermination location of the patch panel and to connect an L2 wiretermination of the second circuit breaker to an eighth wire terminationlocation of the patch panel; wherein the patch panel is configured toconnect the seventh wire termination location to a ninth wiretermination location and to connect the eighth wire termination locationto a tenth wire termination location; wherein the patch panel isconfigured to conduct power from the utility power source to the secondpanel section, by a first shorting wire between the fourth wiretermination location and the ninth wire termination location of thepatch panel, and by a second shorting wire between the sixth wiretermination location and the tenth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to connect each panel section to normal utility power, butwithout solar power back-up when there is a utility outage.
 10. Thesystem of claim 9, wherein the patch panel is configured to enable aninstaller to selectively connect the second panel section to the utilitypower via first and second relay switches of a relay in a microgridinterconnection device when the second panel section is presently atleast partially powered by back-up photovoltaic power, by enabling theinstaller to selectively remove the first and second shorting wires fromthe patch panel and enable the installer to connect a first relay switchbetween the fourth wire termination location and the ninth wiretermination location of the patch panel, and by enabling the installerto selectively connect a second relay between the sixth wire terminationlocation and the tenth wire termination location of the patch panel, forpartial power back-up of the split-bus panel by powering the first panelsection only with utility power and by powering the second panel sectionwith utility power that is backed up with photovoltaic power when thereis a utility outage.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first andsecond relay switches in the microgrid interconnection device arecoupled to the utility power source and configured to be closed andconduct utility power from the utility power source when there is noutility power outage and to be open when there is a utility poweroutage.
 12. The system of claim 10, wherein the patch panel isconfigured to connect an eleventh wire termination location of the patchpanel to the ninth wire termination location and to connect a twelfthwire termination location of the patch panel to the tenth wiretermination location; wherein the patch panel is configured to enable aninstaller to selectively move the L1 phase wire termination of the firstcircuit breaker from the third wire termination location and to connectthe L1 phase wire termination of the first circuit breaker to theeleventh wire termination location of the patch panel and to move the L2wire termination of the first circuit breaker from the fifth wiretermination location to the twelfth wire termination location of thepatch panel, to conduct power from the photovoltaic power source andfrom the utility power source to the first panel section, for full powerback-up of the split-bus panel by powering both the first panel sectionand the second panel section with utility power that is backed up withphotovoltaic power when there is a utility outage.
 13. The system ofclaim 8, wherein the back-up system includes a back-up power source thatincludes a rechargeable battery, a charger, an inverter, and an outagedetector that is configured to detect when there is a utility poweroutage and send an outage signal to the relay.
 14. The system of claim8, wherein an outage detector is associated with the microgridconnection device and is configured to detect whether there is a utilitypower outage and to cause a relay to open when a utility power outage isdetected.
 15. The system of claim 8, wherein the patch panel is a custompower distribution block with terminal lugs that function as the patchpanel wire termination locations, which enable an installer toselectively connect the first and second wire terminations to selectedwire termination locations of the lugs to either: (1) connect each panelsection directly to utility power for full utility power to both panelsections; (2) alternately to connect the second panel section to theutility power via a microgrid interconnection device when the secondpanel section is presently at least partially powered by back-upphotovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect both panel sections tofull back-up photovoltaic power.
 16. The system of claim 8, wherein thepatch panel is a power distribution block with terminal lugs thatfunction as the patch panel wire termination locations, which enable aninstaller to selectively connect the first and second wire terminationsto selected wire termination locations of the lugs to either: (1)connect each panel section directly to utility power for full utilitypower to both panel sections; (2) alternately to connect the secondpanel section to the utility power via a microgrid interconnectiondevice when the second panel section is presently at least partiallypowered by back-up photovoltaic power, or (3) alternately connect bothpanel sections to full back-up photovoltaic power.